Powder Box

ABSTRACT

A powder box with a first box body with an interior cavity and an upward facing opening, a first box cover capable of lidding over the first box body and covering the opening, a circle of a protruding portion formed on an upper surface of the first box body and protruding upwards, and a lower surface of the first box cover being of elastomeric material capable of elastic deformation. The protruding portion contacts the lower surface of the first box cover and causes elastic deformation of the lower surface of the first box cover when the first box cover lids over the first box body. The protruding portion and the elastomeric material of the lower surface of the first box cover cooperate to seal the first box body and the first box cover.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201520256016.9, filed Apr. 24, 2015, now Chinese Patent No. CN 204541166U, granted Aug. 12, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a powder box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A makeup box, such as that described in Chinese Patent No. CN203424525U granted on Feb. 12, 2014, according to the prior art typically comprises a bottom box, an inner box having an interior cavity, a box cover connected with the bottom box, an inner box cover being sealingly provided over the interior cavity of the inner box between the bottom box and the box cover, a snap frame being provided between the bottom box and the inner box, a circle of raised seal rib being provided at the periphery of the lower surface of the inner box cover, and, correspondingly, a circle of seal groove being provided at the periphery of the inner box. In a closed state of the inner box cover, the seal groove and the seal rib are fastened by each other. Under the prior art, the sealing of the inner box cover and the inner box generally is achieved by the cooperation of the seal rib and the seal groove. Therefore, during processing the box body, there is high requirement for machining precision of the seal rib and the seal groove. If deviations occur in processing of the seal rib and the seal groove, the inner box cover and the inner box may be poorly sealed or even impossible to close.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus has an object of providing a powder box that can be effectively sealed while being efficient in manufacture and assembly.

In seeking to meet that and further objects, an embodiment of the powder box has a first box body with an interior cavity and an upward facing opening, a first box cover capable of lidding over the first box body and covering the opening, and a circle of a protruding portion or protruding portions being formed on an upper surface of the first box body and protruding upwards. As used herein, the phrase capable of lidding shall mean to be capable of forming a lid. The material of the lower surface of the first box cover is an elastomeric material capable of elastic deformation. With that, the protruding portions contact with the lower surface of the first box cover and cause elastic deformation of the lower surface of the first box cover when the first box cover lids over the box body.

The protruding portions can have a cross section with a trapezoid shape or an arch shape, and that shape can gradually narrow from bottom to top.

The elastomeric material of the lower surface of the first box cover could, by way of example and not limitation, be thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or thermoplastic rubber (TPR), or any other elastomeric material except as the same may be expressly limited by the claims.

The lower surface of the first box cover could be a flat surface.

In certain embodiments, the powder box further comprises a second box body detachably disposed external to the first box body. There, a second box cover can be connected with the second box body to be capable of lidding over the first box cover.

Manifestations of the powder box can have a side of the first box body and a side of the first box cover hinged by a first hinge and a side of the second box body and a side of the second box cover hinged by a second hinge.

The second box body can be formed with a first containing groove for accommodating the first hinge and a second containing groove for accommodating the second hinge. The first containing groove and the second containing groove can be staggered from each other.

A plurality of first hook portions can be formed on the first box cover and can extend downward and be formed with hook feet. A plurality of first grooves corresponding in location and otherwise to the first hook portions can be formed on the first box body or between the first box body and the second box body. Moreover, at least one second hook portion can be formed on the second box cover and can extend downward and be formed with hook feet. At least one second groove corresponding in location and otherwise to the second hook portions can be formed on the second box body.

It is additionally possible for a containing space to be formed on the upper surface of the first box cover for receiving, for example, a powder puff.

Further, a mirror can be disposed, such as by fastening or otherwise, on the lower surface of the second box cover.

It will be understood that the above-mentioned orientation words, such as “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “over”, “on”, “upper”, “below”, “lower”, “downward”, “upward”, etc. are to define the orientation when the powder box is disposed upright for normal use. The powder box is disposed upright in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 5.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the technical schemes formed by specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features. The scope of the invention should be interpreted to cover the technical schemes formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features and equivalents thereof. For example, the technical schemes formed by interchanging the above-mentioned technical features and the technical features with similar functions to the disclosed components of the present application, but not limited thereto, are included in the scope of the invention except as it might be expressly limited by the claims.

Due to the utilization of the above technical scheme, the present powder box has advantages over the prior art. For instance, by employing the elastomeric material as the material of the lower surface of the first box cover and providing a circle of a protruding portion or portions on the upper surface of the first box body, the sealing of the first box body and the first box cover may be achieved by the cooperation of the protruding portions and the elastomeric material. Accordingly, the first box body and the first box cover of the present powder box are simple to process and have good sealing effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a powder box according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the powder box in an open state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the powder box with the second box cover open and the first box cover closed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the powder box;

FIG. 5 is an alternative sectional view of the powder box; and

FIG. 6 is a magnified view of a portion of the powder box illustrating the sealing of the first box cover with the protruding portion.

Like reference numbers are used in the drawings wherein 1 is the first box body, 2 is the first box cover, 3 is the second box body, 4 is the second box cover, 5 is the containing space, 6 is the mirror, 7, is the first hinge, 8 is the second hinge, 9 is the first containing groove, 10 is the second containing groove, 11 is the first hook portion, 12 is the first groove, 13 is the second hook portion, 14 is the second groove, 15 is the protruding portion, 31 is the snap frame, 32 is the bottom shell, and 33 is the button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The powder box disclosed herein is subject to varied embodiments, each within the scope of the invention. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below.

As shown in the figures, a powder box according to the invention can comprise a first box body 1 with an interior cavity and an upward facing opening and a first box cover 2 capable of lidding over the first box body 1 and covering the opening. The powder box further comprises a second box body 3 detachably retained external to the first box body 1. A second box cover 4 is connected with the second box body 3 and is capable of lidding over the first box cover 2.

As FIG. 1 shows, the second box body 3 comprises a snap frame 31 for detachably engaging the first box body 1, a bottom shell 32 for detachably accommodating the snap frame 31, and a button 33 provided on the bottom shell 32. Within the scope of the invention, the snap frame 31, the bottom shell 32, and indeed multiple other components of the powder box or combinations thereof could be integrally formed or separately formed and connected.

For convenient use of the powder box, a containing space 5 is formed on the upper surface of the first box cover 2 for receiving a powder puff (not shown). A mirror 6 is fixed to the lower surface of the second box cover 4.

A side of the first box body 1 and a side of the first box cover 2 are hinged by a first hinge 7, and a side of the second box body 3 and a side of the second box cover 4 are hinged by a second hinge 8. The second box body 3 is formed with a first containing groove 9 for accommodating the first hinge 7 and a second containing groove 10 for accommodating the second hinge 8. The first containing groove 9 and the second containing groove 10 are staggered from each other such that interaction effects between the first box cover 2 and the second box cover 4 can be avoided, and the powder box is most convenient in use.

A plurality of first hook portions 11 is formed on the first box cover 2. The hook portions 11 extend downward and are formed with hook feet. A plurality of first grooves 12 matching with and corresponding in location and otherwise to the first hook portions 11 is formed on the first box body 1 or between the first box body 1 and the second box body 3. Specifically, the present embodiment of the powder box has three first hook portions 11, and the three first hook portions 11 and the first hinge 7 are evenly distributed over the periphery of the first box cover 2. Correspondingly, there are also three first grooves 12. Recesses are formed on the outer side of the first box body 1 and on the inner side of the second box body 3. The first grooves 12 are formed by the recesses on the first box body 1 and the recesses on the second box body 3 together. When closed, the first hook portions 11 and the first grooves 12 are mutually engaged and fastened.

At least one second hook portion 13 is formed on the second box cover 4. The hook portion or portions 13 extends downward and is formed with hook feet. At least one second groove 14 matching with the second hook portions 13 is formed on the second box body 3. In this embodiment, there is one second hook portion 13 and one the second groove 14, and the second hook portion 13 and the second hinge 8 are arranged at the two opposite sides of the powder box. When closed, the second hook portion 13 and the second groove 14 are mutually engaged and fastened.

For better sealing the first box body 1 and the second box body 2, a circle of a protruding portion 15 or protruding portions 15, such as a ridge or ridges, is formed on an upper surface of the first box body 1 and protrudes upwards. Preferably, the protruding portion 15 has a cross section with a trapezoid shape or an arch shape that gradually narrows from bottom to top. The lower surface of the first box cover 2 is a flat surface, at least in the portion thereof that aligns with the protruding portion 15, and the material thereof is an elastomeric material capable of elastic deformation. The material of the lower surface of the first box cover 2 can, by way of example and not limitation, be TPE, TPU or TPR. The protruding portion 15 contacts with the lower surface of the first box cover 2 and causes the elastic deformation of the lower surface of the first box cover 2 when the first box cover 2 lids over the first box body 1. Accordingly, a sealing space between the first box body 1 and the first box cover 2 is efficiently formed.

With certain details and embodiments of the present invention for a powder box disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.

Therefore, the following claims shall define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims may express or be considered to express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, any such claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof. 

I claim as deserving the protection of Letters Patent:
 1. A powder box comprising a first box body with an interior cavity and an upward facing opening, a first box cover capable of lidding over the first box body and covering the opening, wherein a circle of a protruding portion is formed on an upper surface of the first box body; and wherein the circle of the protruding portion protrudes upwards, a lower surface of the first box cover is formed by an elastomeric material capable of elastic deformation, and the protruding portion contacts the lower surface of the first box cover and causes elastic deformation of the lower surface of the first box cover when the first box cover lids over the box body.
 2. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein the protruding portion has a cross section with a trapezoid shape that gradually narrows from bottom to top.
 3. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein the protruding portion has a cross section with an arch shape that gradually narrows from bottom to top.
 4. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the first box cover is formed by TPE, TPU, or TPR.
 5. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the first box cover is a flat surface.
 6. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein the powder box further comprises a second box body detachably disposed external to the first box body, and a second box cover connected to the second box body and capable of lidding over the first box cover.
 7. The powder box according to claim 6 wherein a side of the first box body and a side of the first box cover are hinged by a first hinge and a side of the second box body and a side of the second box cover are hinged by a second hinge.
 8. The powder box according to claim 7 wherein the second box body is formed with a first containing groove for accommodating the first hinge and a second containing groove for accommodating the second hinge, wherein the first containing groove and the second containing groove are staggered from each other.
 9. The powder box according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of first hook portions is formed on the first box cover, extends downwards and is formed with hook feet, and a plurality of first grooves corresponding to the first hook portions is formed on the first box body or between the first box body and the second box body; at least one second hook portion is formed on the second box cover, extends downwards and is formed with hook feet, and at least one second groove corresponding to the second hook portions is formed on the second box body.
 10. The powder box according to claim 1 wherein a containing space is formed on an upper surface of the first box cover for receiving a powder puff.
 11. The powder box according to claim 6 wherein a mirror is retained on a lower surface of the second box cover. 